Protector mechanism for looms



P 26, 1939- E. R. HOLMES 2,173,965

PROTECTOR MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Oct. 10, 1938 Patented Sept. 26, 1939 ITED STATES*- OFFICE PROTECTOR MECHANISM. FOR I OOMS Elbridge R. Holmes, Worcester, Mass.,assignor to Crompton 8; Knowles Loom Works, Wor- This invention relates to improvements in protector mechanisms for looms and it is the general object of the invention to determine early in the flight of the shuttle whether the conditions of shuttle movements at the beginning of the shuttle flight are such that the loom should be stopped without waiting for the shuttle to reach its box of destination.

It has been common practice heretofore to control the protector stopping mechanism of looms by the binder of the shuttle box toward which the shuttle is travelling. When running at high speeds the loom is subjected to considerable shock to stop the lay suddenly as is necessary at protection. Tardy arrival of the shuttle may be due to failure of the picking motion at the opposite end of the 100m to start the shuttle with a sufficiently high rate of speed to cross the lay in the allotted time and it is an important object of my present invention to derive an indication for the protecting mechanism from a point adjacent to the box from which the shuttle is olelivered. If the shuttle is late or slow in leaving the box, the stopping mechanism can be set into action to bring the lay to rest by a gradual application of retarding force, thereby sparing the loom of the usual shock of protection.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a shuttle detector which is movable toward the path along which the shuttle moves to reach the path after the shuttle has passed the detecting position if the shuttle is running normally. If the shuttle is slow or has been late in its time of picking, oris at rest on the lay in front of the detector, the latter will then be stopped to initiate a stopping operation of the looms. The time during which the detector has its detecting motion can be varied by means of a cam which is adjustable in the direction of the back and forth motion of the lay. By moving the cam the detector can be caused to act at any desired time, thereby permitting the picking to be set early or late according to the demands of the fabric being woven. 7

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a loom having my invention applied thereto, 55 Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of Fig. 1

taken in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1, showing the shuttle in different positions along the lay,

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 33, Fig. 2, indicating that the shuttle has been picked and has reached a point beyond the detector for the 5 protector mechanism, and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but wherein the shuttle'has been slow in its delivery and the mechanism is therefore in stopping position.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 I 10 have shown a loom frame l0 having a lay ll mounted on lay swords 52' which pivot about the lay rocker pin l3. A crack shaft l4 having a crank arm It drives the lay through connectors it pivoted to the lay at IT in the usual manner. 15 The reed 18 extends along the lay and the latter is provided with two shuttle boxes D and R the first of which, for the purposes of this description, may be considered as the delivery box from which the shuttle is picked and the other of 20 which is the receiving box toward which the shuttle is picked.

These shuttle boxes may be substantially the same or one of them may be a plain box while the other is a shifting shuttle box. For purposes of 25 illustrating my invention however I have shown a lay which is provided with a single box at each end. Each box will have a shuttle binder 20 cooperating with the usual protector finger 2!...

At the rear of each shuttle box is a picker spin- 30 dle 22 along which slides a picker 23 for engaging the shuttle S, the picker being driven by a picker stick 24. The usual protector dagger is indicated at 27, and rod 28 carries both the finger 2i and the dagger 21. 35

Loom controlling mechanism is shown at the upper left hand part of Fig. 1 and includes a shipper handle 3!] secured to a shipper rod 3| extending across the loom. The lower arm 32 of the shipper handle carries a stud 33 which enters 40 a T-shaped slot in a shipper lever 35. The latter is pivoted as at 36 and has the lower end thereof connected to a rod 3'! extending rearwardly to the loom driving mechanism not shown. This type of shipper is very well known and op- 45 erates in such a Way that when the shipper handle is moved forwardly or to the left as shown in Fig. l the loom is in running position, the stud 33 cooperating with the T-shaped slot to hold the shipper lever 35 yieldingly locked in driving position. When the loom is to be stopped the shipper rod 3! is turned in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, thereby turning the shipper handle to the right and causing the lower arm 32 to move to the left to dislodge the stud 33 from its .55

normal running position and thereby rock the shipper lever in a counter-clockwise direction around its pivot 36 to effect rearward motion of the rod 31. The driving mechanism not shown is so constructed that rearward motion of the rod 31 disconnects the power from the loom. Brake mechanism may be employed if desired to stop the loom when the shipper handle moves to disconnect the loom from the driving motor. This shipping mechanism is substantially the same as that shown in the Knowles Patent No. 197,641 but I do not wish necessarily to be limited to this type of shipping mechanism inasmuch as it is suificient if the invention to be described hereinafter operates in such a way as to move some part which controls the driving mechanism of the loom. Details of the connections between the shipper mechanism and the loom drive may if desired be as shown in the Brouwer Patents 2,055,228 and 2,055,229.

The structure thus far described may be of common construction and operate in the usual manner, the crank shaft making a revolution for each beat of the loom and the picker stick propelling the picker along the spindle 22 during the backward stroke of the lay when the latter is commonly in the position known as topcenter. At this time the warp sheds of the loom are open to receive a shuttle and the latter will leave the delivering box and travel across the lay while the latter is in the rearward position, the shuttle entering the box as the lay reaches approximately its mid position during the forward stroke thereof, or so-called bottom center position. The protector finger 2| is illustrated as part of the usual protector mechanism which I prefer to employ in conjunction with the invention to be described. hereinafter. As already stated this type of protection operates during the forward beat of the lay and is dependent for its control upon the position of the binder 20 of the shuttle box toward which the shuttle is travelling. It is not believed necessary to describe the details of the usual protector motion but it should be noted that it acts at the end of the flight of the shuttle and is dependent upon conditions existing in the receiving shuttle box.

In carrying my present invention into effect I provide means for controlling the protector mechanism from a point close to the delivering shuttle box, thereby giving the lay considerably more time in which to be stopped if the shuttle has been improperly delivered from the delivering box. In Figs. 1, 3 and. 4 I have shown a rod 46 supported by and pivotally mounted with respect to the lay at the lower forward edge thereof. Each end of this rod carries similar detecting and stopping devices and a description will be given of the devices for one of the boxes only, but it is to be understood that each end of the lay will be equipped with a detecting and. stopping unit.

Extending forwardly from rod 40 adjacent to each shuttle box is a hook arm 4| having a notch 42 to receive a pawl 43 carried by a collar 44 angularly adjustable on and secured by set screw 45 to the shipper rod 3|.

Extending upwardly from and secured to rod 45 is a roll carrier 59 on which is mounted a detector roll rotatable about a substantially vertical axis 52 on the carrier 50. An adjustable stop screw 55 fastened to the carrier 50 engages the lay to limit the amount of rearward motion of the roll 5| toward the reed I8. The roll is so 'tion to enterrecess 82.

placed that it can enter the path of the shuttle and engage the forward wall of the latter.

Depending from and secured to rod 46] is an arm 60 carrying a cam roll 6| at the lower end thereof for engagement with a cam designated generally at C. The cam is in the form of a block which rests on a supporting bracket 62 vertically adjustable toward and from the lay by means of bolts 63 which pass through slots 64 in the bracket and are fastened into the loom frame. Horizontal adjusting screws 65 are carried by the bracket in front of and behind the cam C to vary the horizontal position thereof. Bolts 66 extend through horizontal slots 57 in the cam and are fastened to the bracket. By reason of the construction just described the cam can be adjusted vertically and also horizontally. A spring If connects the arm 50 to a fixed stud 1| on the bracket and acts in a direction to move the detector roll 5| and stop screw 55 toward the lay.

The upper surface of cam C has front and back areas 80 and 8!, respectively, which engage roll BI, and are substantially concentric with the rock pin l3. A recess or depression 82 lies between the areas 80 and BI and is adapted for reception of the cam roll 6|.

In operation the lay will move back and forth as already described and the shuttle will be picked at top center. Assuming that the lay is in its foremost position and is starting rearwardly, the cam roll 6| will be on the forward area 80 of cam C so that the rod 40 will be turned in a left hand direction with respect to the lay as viewed in Fig. 1 to depress the hook arm 4| in position to engage pawl 43. At this time the shuttle is in the box D preparatory to being picked to the box R. As the lay reaches the top center or picking position approximately midway in its rearward sweep the shuttle will be picked while roll 6| is still on area 80. The shuttle leaves the box and starts across the lay and will ordinarily reach the position of Fig. 3 and the dotted position of Fig. 2 before roll 6| reaches the recess 82 during backward motion of the lay. When this point is reached, rod 40 will rock in a right hand direction relatively to the lay, under action of spring NJ, since the shuttle is beyond roll 5| and roll 6| is in posi- The hook arm 4| is therefore raised out of engaging position with respect to the pawl 43 and rearward movement of the lay continues without effect on the shipper rod. The shuttle will continue toward box R and will arrive there ordinarily when the roll BI is on the area 8|, hence the roll 5| adjacent the shuttle box D will be out of the path of the shuttle. Should the shuttle be late in reaching the box R, however, the usual protector mechanism will act to stop the loom through the finger 2| and the dagger 21.

If for any reason the shuttle is tardy in leaving the box D its front wall will be in the path of roll 5|, as shown in Fig. 4, when roll 6| reaches the recess 82, and rod 40 will not berocked substantially relatively to the lay. Hook arm 4| therefore remains down to engage pawl 43 and due to' rearward movement of the lay will rock the shipper rod 3| in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to throw off the driving power of the loom as already described. Since it is probable that a late delivery of the shuttle is due to a weak pick which would not be sufficient to cause the shuttle to enter the box R it is desirable to stop the loom and the mechanism just described will initiate this action earlyi inthefiight ofthe shuttle during the backward motion of the lay and approximately half a beat of the loom earlier than the ordinary protection.

Any forward movement on the part of the lay which may continue after loom stoppage has beenv initiated can be arrested by the ordinary dagger with a shock or strain on the loom which will be very much less than would be the case if my invention were not used.

During the forward beat of the lay when the advances. On the next pick of the loom the shut- 1.

tle will be delivered from boxR and traverse the lay in a direction opposite to that already de-. scribed. Since the shuttle detecting and stopping mechanism is duplicated at each end of the lay the actions described in connectionwith the delivery of the shuttle from box D can occur on the return motion of the shuttle. Should the shuttle for instance reach the dot and dash position shown in Fig. 2 while moving in the direction of arrow (1 when the cam roll reaches the recess 82 the loom will continue to run, but should the shuttle fail to reach this position at the time specified loom stoppage will be initiated as was described in connection with the first flight of the shuttle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for initiating the stoppage of the loom when the shuttle is tardy in leaving the delivering box. It will further be seen that this result is accomplished by a part acting as a shuttle detector which, when prevented from having its normal rearward movement relatively to the lay by engagement with a tardy shuttle, initiates loom stoppage. It will also be seen that loom stoppage is initiated approximately half a pick earlier than is the case with the usual protector mechanism and also that the latter can act to stop the retarding lay should it still be moving at the usual time of protection during subsequent forward motion of the lay. Under the last named conditions the shock of stopping the loom will be greatly reduced. Also, it will be seen that the recess 82 acts on the forward beat of the loom to prevent engagement of the hook and the rear part of the pawl 43.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom having a lay, a delivering shuttle box at one end of the lay and a receiving shuttle box at the other end thereof,.means to pick a shuttle from the delivering box toward the receiving box along a given path, a shuttle feeler adjacent to the delivering shuttle box and normally out of said path, means to move the shuttle feeler into the path of said shuttle at a time in the cycle of the loom when the shuttle will normally be between the shuttle feeler and the receiving box, and means controlled by the shuttle feeler to stop the loom if the shuttle is so placed because of a low rate of motion thereof as to prevent the shuttle feeler from moving into said path.

2. In a loom having a lay, a delivering shuttle box .at one end of the lay and a receiving shuttle box at the other end thereof, means to pick a shuttle fromthe delivering toward the receiving shuttle box, a shuttle feeler located adjacent to the delivering shuttle box, means to move the shuttle feeler .into the path of the shuttle at a point adjacent to the delivering shuttle box at a time in the cycle of the loom when the shuttle would normally-have. passed the shuttle feeler and be located. between the latter and the re; ceiving box, and means controlled by the shuttle .feeler to stop the loom when said shuttle feeler engages the shuttle at said given time in the cycle of the loom.

3. In a loom having a lay movable backwardly and'forwardly therein, a delivering shuttle box at one end of the lay and a receiving shuttle box at the other end thereof, means to pick the shuttle at a given rate of speed from the delivering'shuttle box toward the receiving shuttle box; a shuttle feeler: located adjacent to the delivering box, means normally acting to project the shuttle feelerlinto the path of the shuttle on the backward stroke of the lay at a time in the loom cycle when the shuttle will normally be be-..

tween. the shuttle feeler and the receiving shuttle box, and means controlled by the shuttle feeler when the latter engages the shuttle at said given time in the loom cycle on the backward stroke of the lay to stop the loom.

4. In a loom having a lay movable backwardly and forwardly therein, a delivering shuttle box at one end of the lay and a receiving shuttle box at the other end thereof, a shuttle feeler adjacent the delivering shuttle box, a cam extending in the direction of the back and forth motion of the lay, a controller for the shuttle feeler operated by the cam and effective at a point immediately after picking of the shuttle to cause movement of the shuttle feeler into the path of the shuttle, loom stopping mechanism, and an actuator for the stopping mechanism positioned by the shuttle feeler and effective due to backward motion of the lay to stop the loom when the shuttle prevents the shuttle feeler from moving into the path of the shuttle,

5. In a loom having a lay movable backwardly and forwardly therein, a delivering shuttle box at one end of the lay and a receiving shuttle box at the other end thereof, means to pick a shuttle from the delivering box toward the receivipg box at a given rate of motion, a cam extending in the direction of the back and forth motion of the lay, a shuttle feeler adjacent to the delivering shuttle box, means controlled by the cam and effective during backward motion of the lay to cause the shuttle feeler normally to move into the path of the shuttle, loom stopping mechanism, and an actuator for the loom stopping mechanism positioned by the shuttle feeler to cause operation of the loom stopping mechanism when the shuttle prevents the shuttle feeler from moving into the path of the shuttle.

6. In a loom having a lay movable backwardly and forwardly therein, a delivering shuttle box at one end of the lay and a receiving shuttle box at the other end thereof, means to pick the shuttle from the delivering box toward the receiving box at a given rate of speed during backward motion of the lay, a pivot around which the lay moves, a cam extending in the direction of the back and forth motion of the lay and having front and back areas substantially concentric with said pivot and having a recess between said areas, a shuttle feeler adjacent to the delivering shuttle box, means having a part cooperating with said cam to determine the position of the shuttle feeler with respect to the path of the shuttle, said part when engaging the concentric parts of the cam holding the shuttle feeler out of the path of the shuttle, and said means effective to move the shuttle feeler into the path of the shuttle when said part enters said recess, loom stopping mechanism, and an actuator movable with the shuttle feeler, the shuttle feeler normally movable by said means into the path of the shuttle when said part enters the recess to prevent cooperation of the actuator and the stopping mechanism and presence of a shuttle at a point adjacent to the delivering box acting to prevent the shuttle feeler from entering the path of the shuttle and causing the actuator to engage the stopping mechanism to stop the loom on the backward stroke of the lay.

7. In a loom having a lay movable backwardly and forwardly therein, a delivering shuttle box at one end of the lay and a receiving shuttle box at the other end thereof, means to pick the shuttle from the delivering box toward the receiving box at a given rate of speed during backward motion of the lay, a pivot around which the lay moves, a cam extending in the direction of the back and forth motion of the lay, said caIrihaving front and back areas substantially concen-' trio with said pivot and having a recess between said areas, a shuttle feeler adjacent to the delivering shuttle box, means having a part cooperating with said cam to determine the position of the shuttle feeler with respect to the path of the shuttle, said part when engaging the concentric parts of the cam holding the shuttle feeler out of the path of the shuttle, and said means effective to move the shuttle feeler into the path of the shuttle when said part enters said recess, loom stopping mechanism, and an actuator movable with the shuttle feeler, the shuttle feeler normally movable by said means into the path of the shuttle when said part enters the recess to prevent cooperation of the actuator and the stopping mechanism and presence of a shuttle at a point adjacent to the delivering box acting to prevent the shuttle feeler from entering the path of the shuttle and causing the actuator to engage the stopping mechanism to stop the loom on the backward stroke of the lay, said means effective on the forward stroke of the lay when the part enters the recess to move the actuator away from a loom stopping mechanism.

ELBRIDGE R. HOLMES. 

